There is nothing more joyful than photographing the baby of someone I have known a long time! Baby W's mom grew up next door to me and my sisters. I love seeing her as a mom to this sweet baby boy! He was such a happy little baby and we had so much fun with him. Looking at these photos brighten my day!

On this cold February day I am looking back with fondness on this beautiful spring extended family photo session. I love this family! They are beautiful and sweet and I had so much fun chasing the kids around the park! What a photogenic family. Look at all this spring beauty!

I adore this family! I photograph them every fall and we always have a blast. These girls are so sweet and funny. We had so much fun running around Big Trees Forest Preserve and trying to dodge pesky mosquitos. I love their matching outfits. So adorable! I love these photos!

Newborn photo sessions are one of my favorite things. Especially when the baby is one of my best friends baby and has been so highly anticipated! Baby Hazel did not disappoint for her session. She was such an adorable little newborn. She slept so peacefully but also let me get some photos of her with her eyes open. I adore these photos!

Baby M was the sweetest little baby at her newborn session. She was so tiny and angelic. She stayed awake for part of her session so I could photograph her beautiful baby blues. All of her outfits were so cute. I especially loved the wrap with the bow. So adorable. There is nothing better than taking photos of such a sweet new baby. And the newborn snuggles I get are just a bonus. I love these photos and I hope you enjoy them too!

I had so much fun with the Fourth of July mini sessions. I loved seeing all these adorable, patriotic kids! I love how red, white and blue really pops in photos. Thank you so much to everyone who came out to the mini sessions!

I hope everyone enjoys these photos! Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend. Happy Independence Day!

I had so much fun photographing this family. I have already worked with 3/4 of them as members of a Ashley and Chris' family and wedding party so it was great to get them in front of my camera again. And we just had a blast running around the colorful back alleys of Norcross. I think the fun and silliness we had during the shoot is really reflected in the photos. Hayley enjoyed showing me all the moves she is learning in gymnastics and ballet. Evie's sweet giggles and smiles just captured my heart. Matt and Jennifer just have the loveliest family and you can tell they are just so in love. I really enjoyed my time with this sweet family. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and I hope you enjoy the photos!

I was so excited to take Kate's newborn photos. I always love photographing sweet, new babies when I photographed their parents wedding. Kate's nursery was so adorable. It is a perfect first room. Kate was so good for her session. She slept most of the time probably enjoying the warm room on that cold day! She was just so adorable from her sweet little lips to her tiny little toes. And of course we had to get some photos of her in her Georgia gear and with her bulldog as her parents are both graduates of the University of Georgia. I love these photos of precious Kate Jo. Enjoy!

Love, love this photo session! These adorable kiddos are so happy and great at smiling for photos. They are such pros! We had a lovely semi warm day for their session at the beautiful Logan Farm Park. Their smiles are just too cute. I love it. I hope you enjoy these photos. Leave some love in the comments! I am currently booking photo sessions for spring so to book your session email susan@susancrutchfieldphotography.com or call 678-378-2094.

I have been so excited about sharing these photos. This was such an awesome morning at Wittier Mill Park. I absolutely loved hanging out with this family. We had so much fun. These kiddos are high energy and as cute as they can be. They are pros at getting their photos taken. Their smiles and beautiful eyes just make me melt.

I had so much fun photographing Ruth and Dax's family at McDaniel Farm Park. It was really special to me as they were the first wedding I photographed and Ruth and I have been friends since we were children. They live in Peru now so I was excited that they were in town. Their kids are so adorable and we had so much fun together. I hope you enjoy these photos!

I love these photographs of the Gibson family because things kept trying to get in the way of this session. First the weather and then sickness. Sadly the day of the session their daughter was sick and wasn't able to be in the photos so Liam got his parents all to himself. And he was so adorable. He was a happy little guy and I had so much fun photographing him. Downtown Woodstock was a perfect place to take photos as they have this cool old house there. I love these photos especially the last one of Liam just giggling. So cute!

Choosing the perfect newborn photographer is only the first step to capturing lifelong memories. Any professional photographer you hire will work tirelessly to ensure that your newborn session is picture perfect, but there are a few things you can do to smooth the process.

Your Home

Your home is the best place for a newborn photo shoot. You and the baby are most comfortable here among familiar smells and sounds. Each home has its own perfect space for capturing the delicate beauty of your newborn. Take a look around your house. Any room that is flooded with fresh, natural light is the best place to capture those first posed photos. Pay attention to how the movement of the sun affects the light in your house at different times of day and which rooms receive the most natural light. This is often in front of a large window that lets in the most sun for the time of day you schedule your shoot. This is where I will set up my backdrop, so be sure to have space cleared.

Candid Shots

I may want to capture several shots of your growing family in action. In addition to the posed photos, I love taking shots of you about your house. One of my favorite places to photograph your new baby is in their nursery. This is their first room and I want to capture every detail of this space that you spent lots of time decorating. Another of my favorite rooms is the master bedroom. There is nothing sweeter than shots of the family piled in the bed. Many parents also like me to photograph their child on furniture pieces with special significance. A photograph of your child on heirloom furniture is a gift that can be passed down for generations.

A Happy Baby

A happy, comfortable baby makes the best photographs. Prepping your house before I arrive allows the photo session to start right away. Your house should be warm and toasty for the baby, particularly if you want birthday suit photos of your newborn. I generally suggest parents turn their heat to 78 degrees. A small space heater near the area for backdrop set up helps the baby stay warm and sleepy during the shoot. Feeding your newborn about 20 minutes prior to the photographer’s arrival is perfect for keeping the baby happy and sleepy. I suggest my clients turn on a white noise machine or app. I have found that this is soothing and helps keep the baby asleep. Be sure to keep your baby in loose clothing a few hours prior to the photo shoot to ensure clean skin with no lines.

A Calm Attitude

I will want to schedule your newborn photo session within days of the baby’s birth. I like to capture my families with their newborn when the baby is no later than 10 days old. This is naturally a time of adjustment and hectic schedules. My goal is to make your photo session as stress free as possible. Babies are very sensitive to the emotions of their parents even at such a young age. When mommy and daddy are calm, baby is much more comfortable and less fussy. Your photo session should be fun and relaxing. The pace of my sessions is dictated by the baby. Patience is the key! I will go with baby's flow, and the time is strictly up to her. We will stop as often as needed for feedings and changes. A calm attitude will make a huge difference in the quality of your experience.

Props

Photo props add a unique touch to your photos. I bring props with me for each session, but if you have any blankets, hats or other special items you will want to have them out and ready to use. If you are looking for hand made items for your baby make sure you check out my favorite prop store Lemons & Cream Boutique. Many of my parents have an item that holds a lot of meaning for their family that they want to include in the session. I am happy to add these personal touches that make your photos even more special. It is always best to have these items gathered ahead of time so you can give all of your attention to your newborn.

Parents

You and your family are unique and beautiful. I love to capture the entire family with the newborn. If you decide to be in the photos, soft, complementing colors with clean lines always look best. I suggest the mothers wear soft, natural makeup and the fathers be clean-shaven or have freshly trimmed beards. Moms should have a plain black shirt handy for Madonna photos of the mother and child. After you step in front of the camera, you should just concentrate on your newborn. Be yourself and your photos will be gorgeous!

Accidents

I expect a certain amount of bodily fluids. Don’t be embarrassed if your little one relieves themselves in the middle of the shoot. I have seen it all and am used to this. Just have towels, wipes and burp cloths an arms reach away to quickly wipe up the mess and get on with the session.

Following these guidelines will lead to a stress free newborn photography session that you can look back on with smiles. I am honored each time I am invited into a home to capture the personal memories of a family. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance to you.